ACTINIA, OR SEA.ANEMONE. 363 



2. Actinia^ or Sea~Anemone. 



The beautiful genus thus denominated from its resemblance to the 

 flower of this name when its feelers or tentacles are expanded, is cha- 

 racterized by having an oblong body, of an extensile and expansile 

 nature, and adhering by the base to rocks and other marine sub* 

 stances. The mouth is situated in the centre of the upper part or 

 disc, and is surrounded by very numerous, soft, extensile feelers, or 

 arms, spreading in the manner of rays, and disposed in a single* 

 double, or triple series, according to tiie different species. The 

 Actiniae are very common on the rocks of most of the European 

 coasts: when in their contracted state, they have the appearance of 

 iuanimate rounded masses of coloured pulp, or flesh ; and when 

 expanded, the) greatly resemble the appearance of an expanded 

 polypelalous flower, particularly those of the anemone and ranun- 

 culus tribe. One of the most common British species is the actinia 

 varia *, found on most of our coasts, and varying ad infinitum in 

 its colours, being either red, olive, green, of different shades, and 

 either plain or variously spotted : its principal character, and which 

 distinguishes it in whatever variety of general colour it may happen 

 to appear, consists in a row of short bead-like prominences, sur- 

 rounding the external row of tentacula : these bead like processes 

 are invariably of a bright blue colour. The actinia varia in 

 general, measures about two inches in diameter, at the base, but is 

 occasionally seen of a larger size. 



A more beautiful species is, however, found on our own coasts ; 

 generally imbedding itself in the sand, instead of adhering to rocks; 

 it is called the actinia crassicornis, and is distinguished by its red 

 colour, and roughish external surface ; while the central or middle 

 part, when expanded, is white, most elegantly marked near the 

 base of the tentacula, with numerous carmine-coloured streaks : the 

 tentacula themselves, being of a pearl-colour, and of a much 

 thicker or more swelled appearance than in most other species. The 

 actinia crassicornis often measures four, five, or even six inches in 

 diameter when in its expanded state. 



The actiniae, or sea-anemonies, are naturally very voracious ani- 

 mals, preying not only on the softer sea-animals, but on such as are 



* Act. Mesembryanthemum. Ellis. Gmel. Syst. Nat. 



